A new medical centre is coming to the city centre to house two merged doctor’s surgeries.
Plans for the four-storey building in Oxford Street, Brighton, were unanimously approved by the city council Planning Committee on Wednesday, 9 October.
Green councillor Sue Shanks raised the issue of drivers ignoring the limited access to the street, which is for buses only eastbound, with westbound traffic restricted from entering London Road by a bus gate.
She said: “People are going to drive on because people want to cut off from Valley Gardens.
“They are using it as a rat run and this is not going to be addressed.”
Councillor Shanks was also concerned about the ten car parking spaces for staff as she considered it an “over balance”.
Labour councillor Daniel Yates responded saying there are currently eight parking spaces used by staff at the medical centre in the public Oxford Court car park.
He said: “You are looking at two staff spaces because there are additional GPs from the merger and additional floors bringing new medical services to the site.
“It is not a significant increase in staff car parking. They are doing quite well to keep it down to ten.”
Councillor Yates also told the committee he welcomed the new facilities.
Conservative councillor Joe Miller said he fully supported the application.
He said: “We get many objections coming to the committee saying there is not enough GP provision.
“We have an excellent opportunity here for more GP service. We would be mad to refuse.”
It will provide consultation, meeting and rest rooms for staff at St Peter’s and North Laine medical centres as well as a pharmacy.
The rear of the new building will be built on the former public car park.
Two extra disabled parking spaces are proposed for Oxford Street to make up for the loss of spaces in the former public car park.
As part of section 106 agreements a sustainable transport contribution is required along with £10,730 towards the council’s local employment scheme.
